Caster



UNITED STATES `PATENT @muon GEORGE B. MGC. BLUE, OF TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN.

CASTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 574,017, dated December 29, 1896.

Appncaumneanayzs,1896. serrano. 592,854. momie To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. MCC. BLUE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Traverse City, in the county of Grand Traverse and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Caster, of which the following is a specification. Y

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in casters; and it has for its object to provide a device of this character capable at all times of operating freely, so as to permit the piece of furniture or similar article to which the saine is applied being easily moved, and also to embody in the construction of the caster simple and efficient means whereby the friction of the several parts shall be reduced to a minimum.

To these ends the invention consists, substantially, in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully illustrated, described, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of la caster constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a similar view taken through the caster-wheel. Fig. 4 isa detail perspective view of the caster-socket before the same is completed. Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a modification.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the figures.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the frame of a caster, comprising, essentially, a body 2, providedwith leg extensions 3, between which a suitable caster-wheel 4 is j ournaled. For retaining said wheel 4 between the leg extensions 3 a spindle 5 is passed through alined openings in the latter and held therein by a nut 6, mounted on one end of the spindle, said spindle passing through the wheel 4 and providing a bearing therefor. Each side of said wheel has a dish-shaped cavity 7, formed around the spindle 5, and the inner sides of the leg extensions 3 at the alined openings thereof have similar cavities 8, the cavities 7 and 8 forming a bearing for frietion-balls 9. Y

The body 2 of the frame 1 is provided with a vertical passage 10,'adapted to receive a pintle 11, by which the caster may be applied to a piece of furniture or other similar article. The lower end of said pintle has a conical head 12, which head, in conj unction with a dish-shaped cavity 13, formed at the lower end of the passage 10, provides a bearing for friction-balls 14, and it will be noted that the pintle 11 closely fits the passage 10, and the head 12 of said pintle surrounds the cavity 1S and by reason of being conical-shaped will readily fit the balls 14. The upper end of the passage 10 terminates in acavity 15, similar to the cavity 13, in which travels a series of friction-balls 16` Mounted upon the pintle 11 and over the upper cavity 15 is an annular removable collar 17, the latter being secured to the pintle by means of a screw 18 or its equivalent entering a recess 19, formed in said pintle, said collar having its lower end recessed to accommodate and fit the balls 16 and serving to prevent the pintle descending through the passage 10 and thereby retaining the friction-balls 14 and 1G in their proper operative positions.

Disposed above the collar 17 is a bearingsocket 20, formed of a single piece of sheet metal, preferably steel, and comprises a protecting-plate 21, having a central opening 22, through which the pintle ofthe caster passes, and a series of teeth 23, provided at each of its edges and around the central opening 22. The socket 2O has a sleeve extension 24, formed of L-shaped semitubular sections 25, the horizontal portions 26 of which are integral with the protecting-plate 21 at its ends and lie upon said protecting-plate when the sections 25 are in the position shown in Fig. 1. The upper end of the pintle 11 has a head 27, preferably octagonal in shape, and said head assists in retaining said pintle in the sleeve extension 24.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a slightly-modified forni. In this construction the head 27 of the pintle 11 is entirely dispensed with, and in the place of the socket 2O a protecting-plate 28-is substituted. This consists of a fiat piece provided with a central opening 29,through which the pintle may pass, and this plate has each of its corners and the portion immediately surrounding the opening 29 bent up to form teeth 80.

In practice the herein-described caster is applied to the legs of a piece of furniture or other desired article, and for attaching such ICO caster thereto the sleeve extension 24 is passed into an opening in the legs, the teeth 23 entering the ends of said legs and remaining therein, thus securing the socket to the same. The various parts of the caster having been previously assembled in their respective operative positions, the pintle thereof is passed into the socket 2O until the collar 17 abuts against the protectingplate 2l. This collar forms a bearing-surface for said protecting-plate and prevents the frame of the caster contacting directly with the leg to which said caster is applied. By reason of the friction-balls being disposed at both the upper and lower sides of the body 2 of the frame 1, and also at both sides of the caster-Wheel 4t, it will be apparent that the necessity for any great amount of energy being expended in the moving of the furniture or similar articles to which the casters are applied is entirely overcome.

The construction illustrated in Fig. l is especially adapted for use With large pieces of furniture where it is desired to remove the casters when movingsuch furniture; but for smaller pieces the construction shown in Fig. 5 is best suited. It will also be evident that either of the protecting-plates 2l and 2S will prevent the splitting ofthe furniturelegs, .and also serve to protect the holes in such legs for the reception of the pintle of the caster from becoming enlarged.

The herein-described caster embodies ad vantages 1n point of being capable at all times of operating freely and having in its construction simple and eiiicient means for reducing the friction between the several parts to a minimum. The improvements also overcome the continual breakage of casters While the same are in use, and it will be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construetion may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

lllaving` thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

ln a caster, the frame having a Wheel journaled therein, said frame being provided with a vertical passage having its upper and lower ends terminating in bearing-cavities, friction-balls disposed in said bearing-@avr ties, a vertical pintle disposed in and fitting closely said passage and having its lower end formed with a `head surrounding the lower cavity and shaped to fit the balls, and a removable collar secured to said pintle over the upper cavity and also shaped to accommodate and fit the balls, said head and collar being adapted to close said bearing-cavities and retain the friction-balls therein, substan tially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own l have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE B. MCC. lLllE. lVitnesses:

L. F. LEWIs, R. S. HOLMES. 

